Elevator closure operating mechanism



Dec. 11, 1951 w, ARMSTRONG 2,578,459

ELEVATOR CLOSURE OPERATING MECHANISM Filed June 28. 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 paces 610.550

, Dec. 11, 1951 Filed June 28. 1949 W. ARMSTRONG ELEVATOR CLOSURE OPERATING MECHANISM Y 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 11, 1951 w. ARMSTRONG 2,578,459

, ELEVATOR CLOSURE OPERATING MECHANISM Filed June 28, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 24 oq o Patented Dec. 11, 1951 ELEVATOR CLOSURE OPERATING MECHANISM Westropp Armstrong, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Armstrong Riding Car Operator Corp., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application June 28, 1949, Serial No. 101,734

17 Claims.

This invention relates generally to a mechanism for operating elevator closures and more specifically is concerned with a mechanism for opening doors for freight elevator shafts.

A freight elevator is designed and intended for the handling of merchandise in large and heavy units, and may even be intended for carrying vehicles. Many freight elevators are therefore installed in shafts the landings of which have pairs of vertically sliding bi-parting doors, whereby a large opening can be completely uncovered because the doors move wholly within the shaft and need not be moved to one side thereof. Such doors are usually counterbalanced so that little power should be required to move the same. Nevertheless the size of such doors is such that it is essential that power be used to open and close the same. The problem has been heretofore solved by providing a motor or motors at each landing for operating each set of doors.

Since the control of such motors must be in the car, obviously the electrical connections and circuits become complicated and expensive. Other constructions of the prior art have provided elongated members which extend the entire length of the shaft and have selective connection with the door opening mechanisms of the respective landings. Such constructions are cumbersome and limited as to shaft length. They are costly, and breakage and misadjustment all common faults.

I provide a motor upon the car, thereby eliminating all the motors at each fioor, and a simple effective linkage mechanism at each floor designed to open the doors when the car is at that landing and the motor set in motion. Appropriate mechanical means providing a connection between the motor and the linkage is provided.

I realize that riding car door operators have been used in the prior art, but so far as I am aware, no previous construction has been made which provides a riding car operator working in connection with a simple linkage for Opening vertically sliding counterbalanced doors; and it is the principal object of my invention to provide such a construction.

Other objects of the invention are: To provide a mechanism which is simple in design, thereby eliminating many expensive and complicated parts; to provide a mechanism which is simple to produce, operate, install, and repair, and one which can be used in altering present installations to achieve the results of my invention; to providea mechanism in which there is no likelihood of jamming or binding of the doors.

Ill.

Further objects of the invention lie in the provision of novel linkages at the landings; and specifically a novel linkage which when moved by the riding car operator will move the elevator hatchway doors perfectly vertically and wherein the point of engagement of the linkage with a door will remain on a vertical line as the door is being opened.

Many other objects of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring now to the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, and in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view taken from the shaft side of a freight elevator installation having a mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention showing the doors leading to the landing closed and the car appoaching the landing, with some of the details shown in section.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view taken from the landing side and showing the vertically sliding parting doors in closed condition.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1, but showing the car at the landing, with the doors still closed. I

Fig. 4 is a detailed view of a modified form of the linkage of my invention which can be used with the installation shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1 but showing the doors partially opened.

Fig. 6 is a View of the doors in the condition of Fig. 5 but taken from the landing side of the elevator installation.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to that of Fig. 5 but with the doors completely open.

Fig. 8 is a view of the open doors taken from the landing side.

Fi 9 is a side elevational view of the linkage for opening the doors, with portions being shown in section to illustrate certain details, the doors being shown in closed condition.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to that of Fig. 9 but showing the doors partially open.

Fig. 11 is a view similar to that of Fig. 9 but showing the doors in completely opened condition.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken through the mechanism of Fig. 10 along the line l2l2 and in the indicated direction.

- Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken along the line l3l3 of Fig. 10 and in the indicated direction.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view on a reduced scale taken through the cross-head of Fig. 12 and looking in the indicated direction.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary side elevational view taken through the pitman or crank connection showing the limit switches.

Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken through the cross head along the line |6--|6 of Fig. 14 and looking in the indicated direction.

Fig. 17 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical circuit of the mechanism.

Fig. 18 consists of four (4) kinematic diagrams showing various positions of the riding car operator linkage.

Referring now to the figures, the reference character 30 designates generally an elevator shaft which is built in a building and adapted to have an elevator car 3| move up ordown therein. The car 3| is shown having a floor 32, side walls 33, and a roof 34. The construction of the elevator car 3| may be of any conventional type and any of the usual means for moving same up and down in the shaft may be used. For example, the car walls 33 are provided with guiding devices 36 adapted to engage and slide upon the elongated tracks 31 which are secured to the Walls of the shaft 36 for its entire length. The car 3| may have a sheave 38 upon the roof 34 operating in connection with a cable 39 and a motor operated raising and lowering mechanism (not shown) in the penthouse of the elevator shaft 333 in any conventional manner. For convenience and clarity, none of the electrical control cables, chains, etc., that are usually associated with this type of installation are shown.

At each landing, there is provided a frame 46 defining an entrance way into the shaft 39, but normally said entrance way it is covered by a pair of doors 42 and i3. Such doors are arranged to slide vertically, the upper door 42 moving upward and the, lower door d3 moving downward, the doors being connectedby. means of cables 4d and iii which pass over pulleys as and 4? respectively, secured to the wall of the shaft 3d, so that not only will the doors move simultaneously, but their weights arecounterbalanced one against the other so that only a relatively small amount of power is required to move the same. The ends-of the cables 44 and t are secured to the doorsby any convenient means such as for example eyes- 59 and 5| secured to the respective doors as shown, and means (not shown in. detail herein) may .be provided for properadjustment of the length of the respective cables M and 45 in any wellknown manner.

The doors 42 and 43 are arranged to slide up and down and for this purpose may have extensions 53 and 54 along their edges arranged toslide in grooved members 55 secured to the frame iil or the wall |3D' of the shaft 38. The exact construction is unimportant to the novelty of this invention.

The elevator car 3| is intended ,to be moved to the landing with the, car. floor 32 at the floor level 56 of the landing at which time it is desired that the doors be opened. For this purpose, a riding car operator is provided. This operator consists of a mechanism whichworks in connection with a linkage provided ateach landing, and uses only a single mechanical driving device which is carried by the car, thereby eliminating the need of having a motor and driving device at each of the landings.

On the roof 34 of the car there is provided a motor 68 which is controlled from the car 3|, said motor being connected-with a gear reduction transmission 6| which has a crank wheel or disc 82 mounted for rotation with a stub shaft 63. The rotation of the motor in one direction or the other will rotate the stub shaft 33 in one direction or the other for the purpose of either opening or closing the doors 42 and 43. The wheel 32 has a crank arm at to which is pivoted the connecting rod 65 at B6. The connecting rod in turn is pivoted at to a reciprocating plate 68 or similar member shown in Figs. 12 and 14. The plate or member 68 is adapted to reciprocate along the guide member to, and for this purpose is secured to the crosshead it which has grooved members "H and T2 in any desired manner engaging upon oppositeedgesof the guide member The guide member 69 may bea simple metal strap supported at its center by spacers E3 and bolts it to. an angle iron i5 which in turn is mounted upon the roof 36 of the car 3|.

Obviously, rotation of the motor to will reciprocate the crosshead i0.

Considering for the moment the details of construction of the crosshead it, note that same -s formed as a vertically arranged channel-shaped member having a back portion it which is socured to the members it and by fasteni g bolts and nuts Ti and 2 8 respectively, and having side portions 19 and 8b which serve as guide shoes to engage the actuating pin 8! of the door opening linkage. On the shoe is there is provided. a switch actuating member 233 which is adapted to be depressed when the pin iii enters the crosshead. This closes the switch 84 in the circuit of the motor 68 to enable the same to be operated. This will be explained in detail in connection with the description of the circuit of Fig. 17. Obviously the motor will not receive any power unless the pin 8| is disposed between the shoes and The major parts of the operator have been explained and it will be seen that all of the mechanism for controlling the operator as well as the operator itself are carried by the car 33. I shall next describe the linkage which is connected with each of the sets of doors installed at the respective landings.

The basic type of linkage which embodies my invention is shown in a more or less diagrammatically. The pin 3| of this construction is identical with the pin 8| hereinabove discussed. The riding car operator is the same and hence the crosshead is designated generally it. The pin 8| is carried on the end of arm Eli! of the bell crank lever 9|. The lever is pivoted at 92 to the wall 539 of the shaft 39 andthe other arm.-93 carries a sliding pin 94 engaged within and-adapted to slide along the-guides secured to the door 42'. The counterbalancing mechanism is identi-- cal as that of the doors 32 and dtbut *neisnot shown in 4. As thecrosshead? yes to the right, as viewed in Figit rotates the bell crank 9|-in;a counter-clockwise direction about the pivot point 92. This moves the pin 9 in an arcuate path shown by the. broken line 95 to the position shown at 94. The broken line appearance of the bell crank at that point is designated 9|, and that-of the partially open door as 32'. The new position of the guides 55 is designated 95. The movement of -the bell crank iii has now begun to open the doorAZf and the vertical component of the motion of the pin 94 has been transmittedto the doors? by upward pressure of said pin 94 against the upper guide member 95. There has been motion of the pinto the right of thecenter line 9.11 ofthedoor 42iwhich,

would tend to press the door against its frame if it weren't for the fact that the pin 94 is theoretically free to slide in the guides 95.

It will be seen that the construction of Fig. 4 is simple and effective to open vertically parting counterbalanced doors, and it should be obvious that an installation as described is easy to make and maintain.

Notwithstanding the efficacy of the construetion described in connection with Fig. 4 it is desired to point out that there may be a tendency for binding in the doors especially since the upward force during opening of the doors is applied at a point which moves on both sides of the center of gravity of the upper door. Again, in lowering the door, the point of suspension moves on both sides of the center of gravity of the door. The novel linkage described hereinafter alleviates any possibility of such binding.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 3, 5, and 7 by way of preliminary discussion, I have referred to my novel bell crank lever by the general reference character I00. In Figs. 1 and 3, the bell crank lever I is slanted downwardly; in Fig. 5 it is disposed horizontally; and in Fig. 7 it is slanted upwardly. The pivot pin IOI by means of which the lever I00 is attached to the upper door 42, in each case may be positioned at the precise geometric center of the door and is pivotally.

mounted in an ear I02 rigidly affixed to the door 42 at the top thereof. The novelty of this phenomenon lies in the fact that although the body of the bell crank lever I00 is being pivotally rotated about a fixed point, the free end thereof is moving in a perfectly vertical straight line which may be on the center line I03 of the doors 42 and 43, eliminating binding, side-sway, and applying the lifting force upon that line during opening of the doors, or having the suspension point upon said line while the doors are being closed. This is shown in detail in Figs. 9, 10, and 11.

The lever I00 is a compound lever made up of three members, a casing I 04, a sliding member I05, and a rocking member I06. The casing is L-shaped, having anelongate arm I01 provided with a channel I08 formed throughout the length thereof by means of narrow spacers I09 and H0 secured thereto. The spacer I 09 extends along the entire length of the upper edge of the arm I01 but the spacer IIO terminates at the juncture of the short arm I I I with the arm I01 as indicated at H2. The arm II I is wider than the arm I0! and is also provided with spacers II 3 and H4 along its opposite edges, the spacer II4 joining spacer H0 at II2, while the spacer I I3 terminates short of spacer I09 as shown at II5 for a purpose presently to be described.

The bottom edge of the arm III is not provided with a spacer, hence the casing is open at this point designated I I6. The casing I04 is held in assembly with a cover member II'I having the identical shape as the casing. The cover member II! is secured by means of bolts IIB which pass through the spacers as shown in the drawings and hold the entire casing in assembly. There are thus formed spaces within the arms of the casing for the accommodation of the sliding member I05 and the rocking member I06.

The sliding member I05 is an elongate metal stri designed to slide between the spacers I09 and H0 within the casing I04. At its right hand end as viewed in Fig. 9 it protrudes in and out of the casing as the lever I00 is being rotated in a manner to be described. The end H9 is provided with the pin IOI, previously de scribed, and illustrated in Fig. 13. The pin IOI has a reduced diameter portion I2I pivotally secured to ear I02 and held in position by a pinned collar I22. Raising the lever end II9 obviously will raise the door 42.

At its opposite end I23 the sliding member I05 is provided upon its lower edge with a notch I24 which is rounded at the inner end thereof. The ball end I25 of the rocking member I06 is arranged in engagement with the notch I24 for the purpose of sliding the member I05 right or left. In certain positions, such as for example that illustrated in Fig. 10 with the door either partially open, during opening the same or closing the same, the left end I23 of the sliding member I05 protrudes out of the casing I04 through the space II5 provided therefor between ends of the spacers H3 and I09.

To the rear of the casing I04 at the upper end thereof there is rigidly secured a pin I26. This pin I26 has a shoulder formin thereby a reduced diameter portion I2'i mounted in a bearing I28 secured to the wall I30 of the shaft 30 by means of bolts I3I and held against axial motion by the pinned collar I 32. The entire lever I00 is thus adapted to pivotally rotate about the pin I26.

Referring now to the member I06, it will be seen that same consists of a generally rectangular plate mounted to rock within the casing in the space formed at the arm III. The upper narrowed end terminates in a ball I25 which is engaged within the notch I24 as previously explained. At its lower left hand end it is pivoted as shown at I33 to the casing I04 so that the rocking movement of the member I06 occurs about said point I33. The parts of member I06 thus far described are contained within the casin I04, but the lower right hand corner I34 of the member I06 protrudes from the casing through the space H6 and it will also be noted that the casing is foreshortened at this point as shown at I35 in Fig. 9 in order to permit the free movement of the corner I34.

The pin 8| is secured to the corner I34 and serves to engage the crosshead I0 of the riding car operator. Opposite to the pin BI and on the right hand side of the casing I04 as viewed in Fig. 12 there is a a pin I31 having a groove I38 and a head I39. An elongate plate I40 is secured to the wall I30 as shown in Fig. 16 by means of the bolts M the right hand portion of the plate extending beyond the frame 40 but being positioned in front of the door 43 as seen in Figs. 1, 3, 5, and 7. A pair of track members I42 are bolted to the plate by bolts I43 and have flanged edges I44 which engage within the groove I38 and thereby define a track for said groove I38. The defined track is designated by the character I45 in Figs. 9, 10, and 11. Inasmuch as the track I45 is horizontally disposed, the pin I3! must move on a horizontal line and cannot be withdrawn past the flanges I 44 because of the head I39 being confined by said flanges.

Figs. 9 and 1. When the elevator car 3| appreaches" and reaches'the. floor level-.56 as shown in Fig, 3,. the position-ofthe lever. 109:.willnot change, butremains as shown .in Fig. 9, .but now the pint! has been .engagedlby the crosshead it) which has ,beenbroughtiupby the car, and the shoes 1'9 and 8B are: disposed upon. opposite sides of the pinti. Now the operator is set into motionand the crossheadmoves to the right asiviewed in Fig..10.. Due to :theconfining action'of the track M5, .thepin SI and its opposite mate l3? must-move horizontally. This pulls the casing. @fljOfth-G lever Hill to: the right because of the connection between the member HR and theqmember ill at 33, thus rotating the lever lfifixaboutthe pivot I28 in a counterclockwise direction asviewed 10. Now as this occurs, the pivot i33- drops down relative to the line of the track, l'f, which is the path of movementuof pin,8l. Thisi causes a rotative movement. to be imparteditoxthe plate member llfi, which rocks in. a counter-clockwise direction causing the ball I25 to execute an arcuate movement to the left about the pivot pin I33. This 'moves the member N35 to the left, retracting the portion IE9 as the motion occurs, and eventually causing the end I23 to protrude from the casing [54 as shown in 10. During this time the'pivot pin lill moves upwardly in a-perfectly vertical line .alongthe center line I03. The movement of the ball 525 is arcuate, while the movement of the-member m is rectilinear, and hence there will be relative movement between the ball i25 and notch lz i as evidenced by the partial withdrawal or the ball from the notch as shown inFig; 10.

In Fig. 10, the lever tilt has moved while opening the doors to a point vwhere .the arm 10? is arranged on a substantially horizontal line. This phase of the movement hasv been illustrated because it shows the lever we inaccndition where the sliding member I55 is. at its extreme left. The doors 42 and 43 are partially separated and the riding car operator continues. itsmovement, carrying the crosshead it further to the right.

This continues until. the condition of. Fig. 11 is reached in whichthe doors 42-2 and i3 are fully opened and the riding caroperator has stopped moving the crosshead it. I shall nowdescribe the movements of thevarious parts which. result in the condition shown in Fig. 11 from that shown in Fig. 10. As the crossheadlii moves to the right in Fig. 10, the pivot pin I33 drops below the line of the track M5. The lever we is still being pivoted in a counterclockwise direction about the pin I26, but the. moment that the vertical axis of the pin" Blapasses-the vertical axis of the pin !25, the relativerotation of the rocking member I05 caused by the movementof the pin l33 downwardly is clockwise. Thatis; the motion is clockwise relative to the casing H14. H25 is still being slightly withdrawn-from 'the notch I24, but the motion of the-sliding member m5 is reversed, and'hence it moves to the right, with the end [IQ-gradually protruding'more and more from the end of the casing NM. "The net effect is that the door i2 is raised in a perfectly vertical motion, there being no side-sway or binding whatever, and less force need be applied by the riding car operator;

The remainder of this description more orless of a general nature since manydiiilerent types of control circuits can be used, and manycifierent types of control mechanisms can be usedwith my invention.

Attention is invited to Figs. 15 and 17-inwhich 35 and the transformer Zit.

5 direction as viewed in A of Fig. 18.

The ball 60 arerespectively shown the pitman connection to the. connecting rod- 65 and the electrical control circuit for opening and closing. the doors 42 and 43. The circuit and controls for moving the 5 qelevator carfii up and down are not'shown in order to keepthe explanation as simple and clear aspossible. The kinematic diagrams of the riding car operator are shown in Fig. 18.

The limit switches for controlling the extent 1020f -movement of the crosshead are shown in Fig. 15 and designated 2&5] and 20!. Each operates in connection with-a pair of contacts 202 and .283 which ride upon the disc 62'so that normally the switches are closed, permitting the .15 'amctor cc to drive the disc. and the connecting rodfifi. Ncrmallywith doors closed and the control circuit quiescent, the connecting rod is arranged as shown kinematically in Fi'g. 18 at A. The pin 8! is in the precise center between the zoeshoesoi the crosshead'ifi, and the piniifi is below the horizontal axis of the disc 62-; Under these circumstances, the limit switch Zlli has its contacts 2il3' engaged by the circuit breaking pin 284 which is installed at an appropriate place upon 5;;disc B2 and the motor cannot be setin operation through the lead controlled by said switch. Presume that the switch 8iis closed. The elevator attendant closes switch 2% in lead 2B! (which may be done for example, by shutting off -zthe up and down controls'in any well-known manner not illustrated or described herein) and now the line is connected through leads Zill and 268 to the primary 233 of the transformer 213. The lead 268 is a common lead for the motor fill The-secondary 2 is a low voltage winding, and is now open. If the attendant presses a button or the like for closing the close switch 2E2 nothing will happen because the switch 2fil in the lead 2% is open. Ii

40 the attendant presses the open switch M3, the

circuit comprising secondary 25 I, lead 2M, coil 2|5, switch 286, windings of motor 69, and lead 208 will be closed. The motor 39 will therefore start to rotate driving the disc 62 in a clockwise Simultaneously, the coil 215 will draw the solenoid core 211 upwards so that bar ZiB-engages contacts 2i9 and ZZU-closing the'circuit'of lead 22i which by-passes the transformer 21a The bar H8 is held in this condition, keeping the motor circuit s\vitch. 2H3 is constructed as a momentary contactbuttomitneed only-be-depressed a short time to set the riding car operator into operation.

Returning now to Fig. 18, the disc $2 is now rotating a clockwise direction. In A the pin 18! was in the center of the crosshead so that in the vertical movement of the carlH, thepins of the respectivefioo would ciTer-no interference to passage of s crcsshead 1 3. Now, as the disc rotates carry g the connecting rod 51560 position shown in the crosshead "til moves '75 has'its contacts 2G2 engaged by the circuit-breaking pin 222 which ope s the lead 2N5 and stops the rotation of the motor 60. In the meantime, the circuit breaking pin 204 has left the contacts 203 permitting the switch 201 to close.

Presume now that the passengers or freight have been discharged from the car 3!, the operator presses the button closing switch 2l2. This closes the circuit of lead 223 connected with secondary 215 to coil 22d and through lead 265 through switch 253-! and back to the line through motor 68 and lead 298. This causes the motor to begin to rotate in a direction opposite to that which it rotates when lead 2H5 is connected thereto. The flow of current through the coil 224 pulls the core 2|! downwardly, causing the bar 2 l8 to leave contacts 2| 9 and 220 and engage contacts 225 and 226, short circuiting the transformer 2H] and holding the circuit to lead 22! and lead 201 closed.

The disc of Fig. 18, part D now commences to rotate in a counterclockwise direction. Nothing occurs at first while the shoe 18 takes up slack between it and pin 85 as the pin 66 rides up around the disc 62. Finally shoe 19 engages pin 8| as shown by the broken lines of Fig. 18 part A. Thereafter, continued rotation of the disc closes the doors leaving the pin BI and the crosshead iii exactly as shown in Fig. 18 part B. The discs 62, however, continues to rotate and this brings the crosshead l0 back to the position shown in Fig. 18 part A, at which time the limit switch 20! is opened as described.

Many safety and mechanical features not shown or described in this specification can be used with my invention. Latches, interlocks, and similar devices are relatively easy to associate with my construction because of the simplicity thereof. It is also practical to connect a car door with the operating mechanism such as by having the riding car operator open the same simultaneously with the landing doors, but this forms no part of my invention.

It is believed that my invention, its mode of construction and assembly, and many of its advantages should be readily understood from the foregoing without further description, and it should be manifest that while a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described for illustrative purposes, the structural details are nevertheless capable of wide variation within the purview of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An elevator installation comprising a shaft having a plurality of landings and a car traveling up and down in the shaft and adapted to stop at the landings as desired, each of said landings having a pair of bi-parting vertically slidable counterbalanced doors, one of which is adapted to slide upward and the other of which is adapted to slide downward, a mechanical linkage attached to the wall of the shaft at each landing, each of said linkages being connected with the pair of doors at the respective landings and each including a pin poised adjacent the path of travel of said car, a riding car operator upon the car having a horizontally movable crosshead adapted to be reciprocated for opening and closing the landing doors, the crosshead adapted to move vertically with the car as same travels in the shaft and adapted to be arranged in coupling engagement with the pin of any landing when the car is at said landing, and means for moving the crosshead horizontally Y 10 when at said landing whereby said pin will be moved operating said linkage to open the doors with movement of the crosshead in one direction. and said pin will be moved to close the doors when the crosshead is moved in a reverse direction.

2. An elevator installation comprising a shaft having a plurality of landings and a car traveling up and down in the shaft and adapted to stop at the landings as desired, each of said landings having a pair of bi-parting vertically slidable counterbalanced doors, one of which is adapted to slide upward and the other of which is adapted to slide downward, a mechanical linkage attached to the wall of the shaft at each landing, each of said linkages being connected with the pair of doors at the respective landings and each including a pin poised adjacent the path of travel of said car, a riding car operator upon the car having a horizontally movable crosshead adapted to be reciprocated for opening and closing the landing doors, the crosshead adapted to move vertically with the car as same travels in the shaft and adapted to be arranged in coupling engagement with the pin of any landing when the car is at said landing, and means for moving the crosshead horizontally when at said landing whereby said pin will be moved operating said linkage to open the doors with movement of the crosshead in one direction, and said pin will be moved to close the doors when 'the crosshead is moved in a reverse direction, said linkage comprising a bell crank lever having two arms pivoted to said shaft and having said pin secured to one arm and the other arm connected with the upward sliding doors substantially at the center thereof and above the center of gravity.

3. An elevator installation comprising a shaft having a plurality of landings and a car traveling up and down in the shaft and adapted to stop at the landings as desired, each of said landings having a pair of bi-parting vertically slidable counterbalanced doors, one of which is adapted to slide upward and the other of which is adapted to slide downward, a mechanical linkage attached to the wall of the shaft at each landing, each of said linkages being connected with the pair of doors at the respective landings and each including a pin poised adjacent the path of travel of said car, a riding car operator upon the car having a horizontally movable crosshead adapted to be reciprocated for opening and closing the landing doors, the crosshead adapted to move vertically with the car as same travels in the shaft and adapted to be arranged in coupling engagement with the pin of any landing when the car is at said landing, and means for moving the crosshead horizontally when at said landing whereby said pin will be moved operating said linkage to open the doors with movement of the crosshead in one direction, and said pin will be moved to close the doors when the crosshead is moved in a reverse direction, the riding car operator including a source of rotating power, a rotating shaft connected therewith, and a pitman linkage between the shaft and the crosshead.

4. A mechanism for opening a pair of bi-parting vertically sliding counterbalanced doors from a car approaching and stopping at said doors,

said doors being mounted for uncovering and covering an opening at a landing of an elevator shaft and said car riding up and down in the shaft and having a riding car operator thereon, and providing a horizontally movable actuating member, comprising a bell crank lever pivotally mounted in the. shaft on. the wall and to one side-of the opening and having two arms, one arm being pivotally secured to one of said doors at a point adjacent the center thereof, the second arm adapted to be coupled to said actuating member of the riding car operator when the car is'opposite the opening, said lever adapted to be rotated about its pivot point when the actuating member is moved to move the doors vertically, the first mentioned arm being movable relative to the pivot point of the lever to change the efiective length of said arm, and means maintaining the said point of pivotal securement of said first arm to-the door in a substantially-vertical line as the doors are moved vertically.

5. A'mechanism'for opening a pair of bi-parting vertically sliding counterbalanced doors from a car approaching and stopping atsaidldoors, said. doors being mounted for uncovering and covering an opening at a landingiof an elevator shaft and said car riding, up and down in the shaft and having ariding car operator thereon, and providinga horizontally movableactuating member, comprising a compound bell crank'lever pivotally mountedin'theshaft on a wall thereof and having one arm providedwith atelescoping member, and a second armprovided with a rocking member, the rockingand telescoping members beingarticulatedly attached, the telescoping member being pivotally secured tooone of said doors, and the rocking member being adapted :to be coupled with said actuating member, and means causing. the. telescoping member to slide relative to said firstmentioned arm varying the distance from the door pivot point to thewall pivot point as the rocking memberis horizontally moved and said compound lever rotated.

6. A mechanism foropeninga-a pair of bi-parting vertically sliding counterbalanced doors from a car ap roaching and stopping at said doors,v

said doors,- being, mounted for uncovering: and covering xanopeningat alanding of an elevator shaft-and said car riding up and vdown in:,the shafttand having a ridingcar operator thereon, and providing a horizontally movable actuating member, comprising a compound bell crank lever pivotally mounted in the shaft on a wall :thereof and having onearm provided with a telescoping member, and a second arm provided with a rocking member, the rocking and telescoping members being articulatedly attached, the telescoping member being pivotally secured to one of said doors, and therockingmember beingadapted to be. coupled with said actuating; member, and means causing the telescoping member toslide relative to saidfirst mentioned arm varying the distance -from the door pivot point tothe wall pivot point as therockingmember is horizontally moved and :said compound lever rotated, .said means being arranged to cause movement of :the door pivot point in other than an are about the wall pivot point.

7. A mechanism foropening a pair of bi-parting vertically slidingcounterbalanced doors from a.-car approachingand stopping at said doors, said doors beingmounted for uncovering and covering anopening at a landing of an elevator shaft and said car riding upland down in the shaft and having a riding car operator thereon, and providing a horizontally movable actuating member, comprising a compound bell crank lever pivotally mounted in the shaft ona wall. thereof and having onearm provided with a telescopingmember, and a second arm provided with a rocking member, the rocking. andtelescoping members beingarticulatedly attached, thetelescoping member being pivotally secured to one ofv said doors, and the roclriir member being adapted to be coupled with said actuating memher, and means causing the telescoping member to slide relative to said first mentioned arm varying the distance from the door pivot point to the wall pivot point as the rocking member is horizontally moved and said compound lever rotated, said means being arranged to cause movement of the door pivot point in a substantially vertical straight line during rotation of the compound lever.

8. A mechanismior opening a pair of bi-parting vertically sliding. counterbalanced doors from a car approaching and stopping at said doors, said doors being mounted for uncovering covering an opening at a landing of an elevator shaft and said car riding up and down-in the shaft and having-a riding car operator thereon, and providing a horizontally movable actuating member, comprising a compound bell crank lever pivotally mounted in the shaft on a wall thereof and having one arm provided with a telescoping member, and a second arm provided with a rocking member, the rocking and telescoping members being articulatedly attached, the tclescoping member being pivotally secured to one of said doors, and the rocking member being adapted to be coupled with said actuating member, and means causing the telescoping member to slide relative to said firstzmentioned armvarying the distance from the door pivot point to the-wall pivot point as the rocking member is horizcntally moved and said compound lever rotated. said rocking member havingoa pin providing said coupling, said means-comprising a track confining movement of said pin to horizontal, apivotal connection between said rocking member and said second arm adjacent the end of the second arm, and said articulated connection including a ball and recess joint permitting movement of the rocking memberrelative to the sliding member as the former slides'the latter.

9. In a device of the'character described, a pivota-lly mounted compound bell crank lever h ing two arms one of which is adapted to be cured to a first point on avertically moving door, and the second of which is adapted to have a second point thereof moved horizontally to rotate the lever and move the-door, means causing the said first point to move in a vertical straight line as second arm is moved horizontally, and comprising said lever being formed of three parts,

a casing. having two branches pivotally mounted at .thejuncture thereof, a slidable member movable parallel to the first branch, and a rocking member movable relative to-the second branch. the said first armbeing formed of thefirst branch and the slidable member, and the said second arm being formed of said second branch and the rocking member, saidrocking and sliding members being articulatedly connected whereby as said lever rotates. the-,slidable member-will slide relative to the said 'first branch.

10. In device of the character described, a pivotally mounted compound bell crank lever having two arms one of which is adapted to be secured to a first point on a vertically moving door, and the second of which is adapted to have a second point thereof moved horizontally to rotate the lever and move the door, means causing the said first point to move in a vertical straight line as second arm is moved horizontally, and comprising said lever being=.formed of three-parts,

a casing having two branches pivotally mounted at the juncture thereof, a slidable member movable parallel to the first branch, and a rocking, member movable relative to the second branch, the said first arm being formed of the first branch and the slidable member, and the said second arm being formed of said second branch and the rocking member, said rocking and sliding members being articulatedly connected whereby as said lever rotates, the slidable member will slide relative to the said first branch, the rocking member being pivotally connected with the second branch whereby to rock relative thereto, and the articulated connection including means to permit relative and hinged movement between rocking and sliding members at the same time.

11. In a device of the character described, a pivotally mounted compound bell crank lever having two arms one of which is adapted to be secured to a first point on vertically moving door, and the second of which is adapted to have a second point thereof moved horizontally to rotate the lever and move the door, means causing the said first point to move in a vertical straight line as second arm is moved horizontally, and comprising said lever being formed of three parts, a casing having two branches pivotally mounted at the juncture thereof, a slidable member movable parallel to the first branch, and a rocking member movable relative to the second branch, the said first arm being formed of the first branch and the slidable member, and the said second arm being formed of said second branch and the rocking member, said rocking and sliding members being articulatedly connected whereby as said lever rotates, the slidable member will slide relative to the said first branch, the rocking member being pivotally connected with the second branch whereby to rock relative thereto, and the articulated connection including means to permit relative and hinged movement between rocking and sliding members at the same time, comprising a ball and recess joint, the recess having parallel sides permitting partial withdrawa! of the ball.

12. In a device of the character described, for opening the doors of an elevator installation including a fixed wall, a substantially L-shaped casing forming a long and a short branch, the casing being pivotally mounted on said wall for rotation, a member slidably telescoped in the long branch and having its outer end secured to a point on a door, a rocking member disposed in the short branch and having a pivotal connection with said casing adjacent the end of the short branch, an end of the rocking member protruding from the casing and having a coupling device thereon, means secured to said wall confining movement of said coupling device to horizontal, and said rocking member having articulated connection with said sliding member within said casing whereby horizontal movement of said coupling device will cause rocking of the rocking member, rotation of the casing, and sliding movement of the sliding member, whereby the said outer end will raise the door with rectilinear movement of said point.

13. In a device of the character described, for opening the doors of an elevator installation including a fixed wall, a substantially L-shaped casing forming a long and a short branch, the casing being pivotally mounted on said wall for rotation, a member slidably telescoped in the long branch and having its outer end secured to a point on a door, a rocking member disposed in the short branch and having a pivotal connec-- tion with said casing adjacent the end of the short branch, an end of the rocking member protruding from the casing and having a coupling device thereon, means secured to said wall confining movement of said coupling device to horizontal, and said rocking member having articulated connection with said sliding member within said casing whereby horizontal movement of said coupling device will cause rocking-of the rocking member, rotation of the casing, and sliding movement of the sliding member, whereby the said outer end will raise the door with rectilinear movement of said point, said articulated connection comprising a ball formation on said rocking member and a parallel sided recess formed upon an edge of said sliding member whereby said rocking member may move perpendicularly relative to the sliding member while causing sliding movement thereof.

14. In. combination with an elevator installa tion having a shaft, a shaft wall, a car moving up and down in said shaft, a landing opening, and vertically slidable bi-parting counterbalanced doors, means for opening the doors, comprising a riding car operator having a horizontally movable vertically disposed channel-shaped cross head with juxtaposed shoes, a source of rotating motive power upon the car, a crank adapted to be rotated by the motive power, a connecting rod between the crank and crosshead for moving the crosshead horizontally, a compound bell crank lever pivotally mounted adjacent the landing opening upon the wall, a pin secured to the lever and poised in the path of the crosshead as the car moves up and down whereby when the car is adjacent the landing opening the pin will be arranged between the shoes, the lever being connected with the doors and adapted to open the same when the lever is rotated, and said crosshead adapted to be moved horizontally when the car is at the landing opening to cause rotation of the lever.

15. In a combination with an elevator installation having a shaft, a shaft wall, a car moving up and down in said shaft, a landing opening, and vertically slidable bi-parting counterbalanced doors, means for opening the doors, comprising a riding car operator having a horizontally movable vertically disposed channel-shaped crosshead with juxtaposed shoes, a source of rotating motive power upon the car, a crank adapted to be rotated by the motive power, a connecting rod between the crank and crosshead for moving the crosshead horizontally, a compound bell crank lever pivotally mounted adjacent the landing opening upon the wall, a pin secured to the lever and poised in the path of the crosshead as the car moves up and down whereby when the car is adjacent the landing opening the pin will be arranged between the shoes, the lever being connected with the doors and adapted to open the same when the lever is rotated, and said crosshead adapted to be moved horizontally when the car is at the landing opening to cause rotation of the lever, and means associated with the crosshead for preventing operation of the motive power unless the said pin is poised between the shoes.

16. In a device of the character described for opening a slidable door movable relative to a fixed door frame, a pivotally mounted bell crank lever having its pivot fixed relative to said frame, said lever having two arms one of said arms having pivot means in the end thereof adapted pivotallytozbe attachedzto :axpoint on said door and theisecondzarmiadapted:to be driven in a directionatso as to'rotate the *lever andsaidefirst arm, and kinematic means movable'relative to said :lever mounted on said lever and actuated by the rotation thereof and serving to:vary the effective; length of said first lever arm during rotation whereby-said pivot means will move in a predetermined.non-circular path.

17. Intasdeviceof the character described for:

16 'adaptedto be pivotedto the door, the center of the cranklever adapted. to be pivotall mounted with its pivot point fixed relative to said frame, the-second arm adapted to be moved in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the door to rotate the lever, said first lever arm having a portion slidable lengthwise thereof to-vary the efiective length thereof, a pivot on said portion providing for said pivotal attachment to said door, and a linkage associated with the second'leverarm and connected with said slidableportion to slide the same during rotation 'of the lever.

WESTROPP ARMSTRONG.

No references cited. 

